recen



H. A. RECEN.

cuUER MAD. APPLICATION FILED JULY 29 |913.

1 ,1 95, 39 6 Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

2 SHEfI'S-SHEET 2.

,23 Fl .EL

PATENT FFIQE.

HENRY A. RECEN, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HERCULES TUNNEL MACHINE AND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF COLORAD.

CUTTER-HEAD.

Application filed July 29, 1913.

To cZZ 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY ARncniv, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cutter-Heads, of which the following is a specification.'

My invention relates to an improvement in cutter heads, for tunneling machines. D

The object of this invention is to provide a head so constructed that when rotated, the cutting tools or bits thereof produce a chipping, digging, cutting and scraping effect upon the material through which the tunnel is being sunk, thus using a minimum of power and eXpending that power directly in the cutting operation, instead of expending a certain portion to manipulate the parts on a return stroke, as would be the case if a pounding or driving head be used in the same connection.

A further object is to so construct the head that as the machine on which the head is mounted is moved forward, a clean cut is formed through the entire path of travel of the cutter head, and any ridges which might be left between the sets of cutting tools coinprising the head are removed.

The invention consists in still other novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a view in top plan showing two cutter heads mounted to be in operative relation and with parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction of the head; Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of one of the heads showing the cutting hammers in the position to which they are swung by the ro-4 tation of the head; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view to better illustrate the structure of the cutting hammers; Fig. t is a detail view of one of the cutting bits; Fig. 5 illustrates the structure of one of the pins on which the hammers are mounted. Fig. 6 is a perspective with parts broken away to clearly illustrate the arrangement of the hammers.

In Fig. 1 I have shown two cutter heads A and B which are substantially duplicates, and it will therefore be necessary to describe but one ofthe heads in detail.

Referring again to Fig. l, thelshafts 1 and 2 of the heads A and B respectively, are mounted in brackets 3, 3 at the forward end Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Serial No. 781,797.

0f a frame C. Belt wheels il, 4 are secured on shafts l and 2, and belts 5, 5 run over these wheels t and the belt wheels 6 mounted on frame C. The belt wheels 6 are secured on shafts 7, which lare disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the frame rather than at right angles for the reason hereinafter to be explained, and universal joints connect the shafts 7 with a power shaft 8. Power is transmitted to the shaft 8 by a belt 9, from any suitable source of power (not shown) which travels over a wheel 10 secured to the shaft 8. It is preferable that the shafts 1 and 2 be mounted to rotate together, and I have provided a universal joiit 1l, which connects them at their inner en s.

Each cutter head is composed'of a plurality of disks 12, which are splined on the main shaft, and it is preferable that these disks be held a spaced distance apart by collars l2 placed on the shaft between the disks or by other suitable means. Each disk is provided with av plurality of small openings 13 and larger openings 14. These openings are arranged alternately, and are bored or cut to all be at a given radius from the center of rotation of the disk when it is mounted on the cutter head. Cutting hammers 15 are mounted between the disks on pins 16. Pins l1G are made headed, and have the body portion formed of two diameters. The head 17 is made of a diameter to fit the larger openings 14 in the disks 12, and is provided with a key 18 which is adapted to be received in la key way formed from theopenings I4, and thus hold the 4pin against rotation. Pins 16 have their smaller diameter 19 received in the smaller openings 13 of the disks l2, and the pin is thus prevented from moving to too great a distance through the disk. As a means of holding the pin against upward displacement, pin locks 20, which are substantially turn buttons, are provided on the disk to be turned toa position to bear against the outer face of the head 17.

The hammers 15, as better shown in Fig. 3 have a bearing 21 which is made of proper size to fit and swing on the body portion of the pin 16. The fiee end of the hammer is made slightly heavy, so that the hammer beyond its bearing will be weighted, and as the cutter heads are revolved, the hammers will be held out to a cutting position by centrifugal force. The head of the hammer is cut away at 22 to receive the cutting tool or bit 23, and this tool (as better shown in Fig. 4) is made L-shaped in side elevation, so that when fitted into the cut-away portion 22 it is prevented from being withdrawn in a forward or rear direction and from side twisting. The bits 23 are slid into the cutaway portion 22 from the side, and bolts 24 are passed through the bits and screwed into the hammer for holding the bits against sidewise displacement.

Then the heads are rotated, the hammers are, as stated, held to project radially from the center of rotation by centrifugal force. The cutter heads are brought to a position that the hammers strike the wall to be cut away. As each hammer is weighted at the head, a sharp blow is struck, and the hammer rebounds quite as sharply. Rubber buffers 25 or other suitable cushioning means are secured to the 'back face of the hammers 15, and these buffers absorb the shock as the hammers are thrown backwardly by striking the hub of the following hammer.

The object in having the alternate large and small holes 141 and 13 in the disks is, that as each pin 16 is constructed with a large diameter on one end and a smaller diameter on the other, the large holes are adapted to receive the large diameters, and the small holes the small diameters, the pins alternating in the disks, first the large hole with the large diameter and then a small hole with the small diameter, all pins being inserted in the same direction as shown in Fig. 2 and being thus arranged so as not to interfere with the inserting or extracting of the pins. Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen in the construction illustrated that four hammers are pivoted to a disk, and that a corresponding number of hammers are intermediately pivoted to the next adjacent disk, or in alternate arrangement. Because of the construction indicated, the hammers in the different series do not all strike at the same time, but only those in alinement throughout the series of disks, each set of hammers in alinement following after the other, and in rotation coming into action against the breast of the cut being made, and thus dividing the rebounding action more evenly and causing only the hammers of each set in alinement to strike at once in each succeeding blow.

Vhen the disks have been mounted in place on the shaft of the cutter head, a collar 26 is applied to the end of the shaft, and is clamped in place against the disks by a bolt 27, which holds the disk securely in place, and as each disk is splined to the shaft, the cutter head may be rotated as a unit.

bolts Q8, Q8 may be provided to pass through adjacent disks and hold them locked in place. As stated, the heads, when mounted If, however, it is deemed advisable,.

(as shown in Fig. l) are disposed to have their axes of rotation disposed obliquely to a line drawn at right angles to the longitudinal extent of the frame. If this were not the case, the bits or cutting tools, in their impact against the wall, would chop away the rock or material in the manner intended, but the bits would not strike the surface of the wall in line with the disks, and at these points, ridges would be left, which would cause the bits toclog or wedge in the cuts, but by disposing the shafts as disclosed, the bits, as the hammers come around, overlap in their cutting paths, and in this way the formation of ridges is absolutely precluded,

and a cutting action takes place over the entire wall through which the cut is being made. In withdrawing the frame from the tunnel, the bolt 27 may be` removed, thus permitting the removal of the collar 26, and consequently releasing the disks. By then removing one set of cutting hammers from the end of the shaft, suflicient clearance will be formed that the head may be readily withdrawn. Y

It will be understood that the frame on which the cutter head is mounted must be so constructed that it can be moved forward for each succeeding cut, and can be swung or otherwise moved over the surface which is being cut by it to make the tunnel of suiiicient size. All of this may be accomplished by the mechanism disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 7 81,798, filed July 29, 1913, or in any other suitable manner.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a head which gives the greatest cutting action for the least expenditure of driving power, as there is an almost constant impact against the wall on a line of cutting hammers, and these impacts are so divided up that each alternating hammer throughout the length strikes on each alternating stroke.

It is evident that slight changes might be made in the form and arrangement of the different parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction herein set forth, but:-

I-Iaving fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cutter-head for tunneling-machines composed of disks, hammers pivotally mounted on the disks in a circle concentric with the axes of the disks, each hammer having a buffer in position to strike the hub of the next following hammer when it flies back. y

2. A cutter-head for tunneling-machines comprising disks, each disk having alter'- nately-arranged holes of large and small diameter, pins having two diameters and a head, the head adapted to fit a large hole of one disk and the small diameter the small hole of an adjacent disk, and hammers mounted on the large diameter of each pin.

3. A cutter-head for tunneling machines comprising disks, each disk having altermately-arranged holes of large and small diameter, pins having tWo diameters and a head, the head adapted to fit a large hole of one disk and the small diameter the small hole of an adjacent disk, means for preventing the pins from turning, means for retaining the pins removably in said holes, and hammers mounted on the large diameter of each pin.

4. The combination With a suitable support, shafts journaled therein at an angle to each other, the inner ends of said shafts connected together, disks keyed on the shafts and carrying hammer-heads, certain of said disks removable from the outer ends of the shafts.

5. The combination With a suitable support, shafts journaled therein at an angle to each other, a flexible connection between the shafts, disks keyed on the shafts, hammers pivotally connected to said disks, certain of said disks removable from the outer ends of the shafts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY A. RECEN.

Witnesses L. A. CAVANAUGH, EARLE E. HAZELTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

